Tips to open OCX file

Can't open the OCX file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open OCX files as well as a list of programs that support OCX files.

OCX file extension

File Name ActiveX Control
File Developer Microsoft
File Category Developer Files

The OCX file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the OCX files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the OCX file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 3
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is OCX file?

The file with the extension OCX is the Developer Files file type. It was designed by Microsoft. Additionally, the Developer Files category contains 1205 of other files. ActiveX Control is supported by 1 operating systems. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The Microsoft Visual Studio application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Microsoft Corporation. There are also 2 alternative programs to handle the OCX file. You can use Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Visual Basic in case Microsoft Visual Studio cannot be used.

How to open OCX file?

The most common problem when using ActiveX Control is that a specific OCX is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that OCX files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the OCX file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Microsoft Visual Studio

In this case, you should first verify that the Microsoft Visual Studio application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Microsoft Visual Studio in it. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below is a list of programs that support the file OCX.

Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Visual Studio with OCX files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the OCX file to open in the Microsoft Visual Studio application, but you can set it manually. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the OCX file with the Microsoft Visual Studio program.

Step 3. Update Microsoft Visual Studio to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Microsoft Visual Studio program with the ActiveX Control file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Microsoft Corporation website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the OCX file

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. File problems can be divided into the following:

The OCX file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This suggests truncating the OCX file contents when downloading or copying. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our OCX file. Sometimes virus-infected OCX files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of OCX file may not always be supported by the latest software version. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair OCX file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use Microsoft help.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted file OCX except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the OCX file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the OCX file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the OCX file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.